Gillingham (Dorset)
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Gillingham (Dorset) Signalbox, on the LSWR main line to Exeter, is
nowadays the first Signalbox down the line after Salisbury. This modern
building replaced the former LSWR 'box in 1957.
photograph by Chris Osment |
| The 30-lever Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co 'A3'
frame inside the 'box. Only 20 levers were in use at the time of these
photographs on 1 January 2000, the ten white ones being "spares".
photograph by Chris Osment |
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When the line was singled in 1967 the revised layout consisted originally
of the passing-loop, with bi-directional signalling on the Up Loop, and a
siding for the Engineers Department trailing into the Down Loop. The connection
to this siding was worked by hand-levers on the ground, these being normally
clipped and padlocked with the key kept in the signal-box. Switching-out
facilities were provided.
diagram: Chris Osment collection |
| In 1969 another siding was added on the Up side to serve a
new fertilizer depot, with a connection into the Up loop facing to Down trains.
The revised box diagram at that time was in the BR(WR) "illuminated"
style, as the line was then under Western Region control.
copy of diagram: Chris Osment collection |
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The Engineers' siding was lengthened in 1976 and the existing
connection replaced by a facing connection at the western end of the Down Loop,
the points and associated shunt signals being operated from a new Ground Frame
released from the box. Some years later the points at the Salisbury end of the
loop were converted to clamp-lock operation. The photo of the framed diagram in
the box was taken in 1994 and shows a BR(SR) "illuminated" style
diagram, as by that time the Southern Region had regained control of part of
the line.
diagram: Chris Osment collection |
| Text from Chris Osment. | |
All photographs are copyright
This page was last updated 22 May 2007
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